Friday in the Fourth week of Advent
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he LOVED, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
It was Christ’s desire that we should all be a family, a family united in love. This is why our Lord submitted to His mother showing that now she was the mother and mediatrix of all mankind.
I would like to focus on the word desire. I like to hike and pray. One day I was hiking in the Fay Canyon area of Sedona, Arizona and I was reflecting on the seven deadly sins and the opposing virtues of our Lord sermon on the mount. As I was hiking and musing over the words that are associated with the deadly sin of lust: such words as long for, hanker for, hunger for, yearn, crave, and desire. In my mind I repeated desire, desire, desire and I asked our Lord what do you want me to desire? As I asked that question, I looked up at the canyon and spied a rock formation in the shape of a chalice. Yes Lord, I exclaimed. I shall desire to receive you in the Holy Mass. Lust is just a corrupted form of love that takes yet our desire should be to give love and receive with a grateful heart.
Today would be a good day to rest in the Lord and go to Mass and receive His body and blood. As we receive realize that He has heard our cry’s and has saved us. Such is the love of our God!
God’s Handiwork[1]
Every Christmas although the same in many ways is
always new for each Christmas expresses a hope learned from a lifetime of
praising God. For every Christmas if we open our eyes to truth we will see the
handiwork of God; the rock of our salvation. Perhaps in these final days of
anticipation it would do us well to reflect on the virtues of Mary Christ’s
very own mother and in these final days in some way reflect them in our own
lives.
Temperance the power of the soul
The virtue of temperance
is necessary to the Christian who would live according to the law of God. When
this virtue is wanting, the spirit becomes the slave of the flesh. It can no
longer relish things divine; for, says St. Paul, "the sensual man
perceiveth not the things that are of the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii, 14.)
In fact, gluttony and gross living naturally tend to the obscuring of the
intellect and to the quenching of spiritual light. It is vain, therefore, to
look for wisdom among those that live in luxury and abundance: "Wisdom is
not found in the land of them that live in delight." (Job, xxviii, 18.)
Moreover intemperance, by exciting a wild gaiety, often provokes bickering’s
and dissensions, and it is a known fact that gluttony takes a greater toll of
human lives than does disease. But what is still worse, intemperance excites in
man all kinds of impure thoughts, which find vent in words, gestures and
actions contrary to holy modesty; it hardens the heart and prepares the way to
eternal perdition.
THE
Church teaches us that the Christian must
all submit in expiation of our sins. Our divine Redeemer Himself impressed upon
us this great truth when He said: "Unless you shall do penance, you shall
all likewise perish." (Luke xiii. 3.)
The
object of penance is, in the first place, to lead us to refrain ourselves, in
so far as reason and faith demand, from the inordinate desire of sensual
pleasure, to which our fallen nature is inclined. So strong is this
inclination, that we are ever in danger of falling into the slough of vice. How
many Christians, alas, by following their unbridled imagination, lose both soul
and body together!
Wherefore,
Holy Church imposes upon us the obligation of fasting, putting us in mind of
the advantages which accrue from this salutary penance to which
we practice. Fasting, in effect, "represses vices, raises our
thoughts heavenward, makes easy the practice of virtue, and is a constant
source of merit." (Preface for Lent.)
As
Mary was not tainted with original sin, she did not experience in herself this
disorderly proneness to the pleasures of sense, the baneful consequence of the
sin of our first parents. Being full of grace, she maintained always the just
balance of the powers of her soul. She performed all her actions with ease and
delight, not having to use violence with herself, in order to preserve that
even poise of the faculties, which reason arid the law of God demand.
Nevertheless, Mary subjected herself willingly to the law of penance and
mortification, denying herself those. Her life was one long series of
privations and self-denials. Her fasting and abstinence was continual. She only
allowed herself what was necessary to maintain life. She mortified all her
senses, so that it was hard to say in what particular kind of
mortification she excelled, in modesty of the eyes, in lowliness of demeanor,
in the sparingness of her words or in the dignity of her gestures. It was
natural, then, that her Heavenly Bridegroom should find in her all His delight.
And as the fruit of this temperance, Mary acquired an extraordinary facility in
conversing familiarly with her Well-Beloved, a heavenly joy which was depicted
on her countenance, a virginal beauty which radiated from her whole presence, a
something so indescribably sweet and majestic, that it gave to her an aspect
rather divine than human: "How beautiful art thou my love, how beautiful
art thou! Thine eyes are as doves' eyes, besides what is hid within!"
(Cant. iv, 1.)
Advent Calendar
Read:
Have you blessed
your Christmas tree yet? Prepare to do so before Advent is
over.
Reflect:
"To be fully
a disciple of Jesus means not only accepting and believing his message, but
also taking up and participating in the mission of encountering and inviting
others to join our pilgrim journey to his heavenly kingdom."
Pray:
Add this "O
Antiphon" to your daily or meal-time prayer today: "O Emmanuel, our
King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!" (Catholic Household
Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition, 77)
Act:
Pope Francis said
of evangelization: "It is not the mission of only a few, but it is mine,
yours and our mission." Carry the lessons learned about evangelization
into the Christmas season and beyond.
· Decide
which Mass you will attend tomorrow.
The Three Feasts of the Nativity[2]
When we celebrate Christmas, we are commemorating the three nativities of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason for the three Masses celebrated. The first is the eternal begetting of God the Son from all eternity within the mystery of the Blessed Trinity by the Father, “You are My Son. Today I have begotten You.”
·
This FIRST NATIVITY was before the seven days of
Creation, when everything was darkness. This is why the first Mass is at midnight to recall the darkness that prevailed
during that first eternal birth of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
o The first nativity reminds us of the Spirit of poverty, the Spirit that tells us that all the things God created is His, to be used for His glory and not for man’s enjoyment. Even man was to use himself for the glory of God. This represents the six days of creation. If Adam, being the head of creation, had observed the spirit of poverty and used all of creation for the glory of God, then he would have entered into the Sabbath, God’s rest… i.e. eternal happiness. But Adam messed up everything. And the consequence: the whole of mankind could not enter God’s rest.
·
The SECOND NATIVITY, or birth, of the Second
Person of the Trinity is commemorated on Christmas day when He became man, born
of the Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem. For the world, the darkness was beginning to
be dispelled. This is why the second Mass
is celebrated at dawn when the dawn is beginning to dispel the darkness.
o The second nativity reminds us of the Spirit of chastity. That Spirit reminds us to give up all physical comforts, pleasure and conveniences. And Christ in the manger is a clear example of this. It is a continuous reminder that true happiness can only be found in God and that we are on earth to seek God. All the rest will come with that find. True rest can only be found in God.
·
The THIRD NATIVITY of Christ is when He is born
in our souls, through His in-dwelling, when man, through grace, becomes
enlightened. Thus, the third Mass is
celebrated during the day when the sun is bright. For man is truly
enlightened when he has Christ in his soul.
o
The third nativity reminds us of the Spirit
of obedience. It is only when we can say, “Not my will but Your will
be done,” can Christ be born in our souls. The apostolic commission at the end
of St. Matthew’s Gospel reiterates this, reminding us of the role of the Church
and the men of the Church: “… teach all My commands and how to observe them.”
Christmas reminds us of one lesson.
Christ was born to die. For us the message is clear. We are born to die to
oneself. And to die to oneself means reaching a point in our lives when we no
longer do our own will but the will of the Father in heaven. This is to lose
one’s life in order to find it. If we have learned the lessons of the first
nativity, if we have learned the lesson of the second nativity, our reward is
the third nativity, when Christ is born in our souls…. indeed, our eternal
Christmas. This is truly a Merry Christmas.
— Excerpted
from Fr. Odon de Castro, Bo. San Isidro, Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines
Fitness Friday[3]
3 Healthy Things to Do Every Winter Solstice
1. Sleep deep. Shortest day = longest night. Take advantage of this and plan for it to be a perfect night of sleep.
Check in with yourself to evaluate your sleep hygiene. Sleep experts recommend that you establish a simple ritual before you go to bed to tell your body it is time to rest.
Brush your teeth, wash your face, read a book or meditate for several minutes before you close the light. Make your slumber environment clear of stressors by making your room as dark as possible, turning off the television and silencing your phone.
Set yourself up to be successful by making your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep.
2. Sweat often. It’s dark when we leave for work and dark when we return home. It’s only normal that motivation to move wanes without the friendship of the sun.
While it’s tempting to skip the gym in favor of extra time hunkered down, do your best to move each day, especially today.
Walk an extra few minutes to a bus or subway stop further away, take the stairs and walk the mall to incorporate a little more movement into your daily routine.
Also, you don’t have to be a weekend warrior to enjoy an hour or two of cross-country skiing, a few minutes on the ice rink, or an afternoon sledding with the kids. Make time during the week for simple, active pleasure.
The benefits will show in your mood first. Remember these little bits of movement can not only add up but can also motivate us to move more and get in a “real” workout.
3. Live consciously. We spend a lot more time inside when it’s dark and cold outside. Spending time making your home or office a space that you like to be in will deflect some of the stress and help you lead a well and healthful life.
Winter cleaning isn’t so bad when you play your favorite music, and the result often makes you feel great. Carve out an hour to freshen up your space today.
Light scented candles and shift some furniture around so that you can enjoy it in a new way. Take a minute to look at what is and isn’t working in the space you live in so that you can feel empowered in your world. Take time to appreciate your surroundings today – those in nature and those you created for yourself.
Acknowledge the winter solstice this year, and every year going forward. Honor yourself and your work as you pursue your personal Nutritious Life ambitions for another season. Make it a day every year that you press the reset button amid the chaos of the holiday season and focus on you.
As you look forward to
sunnier days, remember to enjoy the darker days, too!
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION TWO-THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
CHAPTER ONE-YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR
GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND
Article 1-THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
II. "Him Only
Shall You Serve"
2095 The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity inform
and give life to the moral virtues. Thus charity leads us to render to God what
we as creatures owe him in all justice. the virtue of religion disposes us to
have this attitude.
Adoration
2096 Adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion. To
adore God is to acknowledge him as God, as the Creator and Savior, the Lord and
Master of everything that exists, as infinite and merciful Love. "You
shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve," says
Jesus, citing Deuteronomy.
2097 To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute
submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but
for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary
did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things
and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from
turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.
Prayer
2098 The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first
commandment are accomplished in prayer. Lifting up the mind toward God is an
expression of our adoration of God: prayer of praise and thanksgiving,
intercession and petition. Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able
to obey God's commandments. " (We) ought always to pray and not lose
heart."
Sacrifice
2099 It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of
adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion: "Every action done so
as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness, is a
true sacrifice."
2100 Outward sacrifice, to be genuine, must be the expression
of spiritual sacrifice: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken
spirit...." The prophets of the Old Covenant often denounced
sacrifices that were not from the heart or not coupled with love of neighbor. Jesus
recalls the words of the prophet Hosea: "I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice." The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered
on the cross as a total offering to the Father's love and for our salvation. By
uniting ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our lives a sacrifice to God.
Promises and vows
2101 In many circumstances, the Christian is called to make
promises to God. Baptism and Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders always
entail promises. Out of personal devotion, the Christian may also promise to
God this action, that prayer, this alms-giving, that pilgrimage, and so forth.
Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of the respect owed to the divine
majesty and of love for a faithful God.
2102 "A vow is a deliberate and free promise made to God
concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the
virtue of religion," A vow is an act of devotion in which the
Christian dedicates himself to God or promises him some good work. By
fulfilling his vows he renders to God what has been promised and consecrated to
Him. the Acts of the Apostles shows us St. Paul concerned to fulfill the vows
he had made.
2103 The Church recognizes an exemplary value in the vows to
practice the evangelical counsels:
Mother Church rejoices that she has
within herself many men and women who pursue the Savior's self-emptying more
closely and show it forth more clearly, by undertaking poverty with the freedom
of the children of God, and renouncing their own will: they submit themselves
to man for the sake of God, thus going beyond what is of precept in the matter
of perfection, so as to conform themselves more fully to the obedient Christ.
The Church can, in certain cases and for proportionate reasons, dispense from
vows and promises
The social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom
2104 "All men are bound to seek the truth, especially in
what concerns God and his Church, and to embrace it and hold on to it as they
come to know it." This duty derives from "the very dignity of
the human person." It does not contradict a "sincere
respect" for different religions which frequently "reflect a ray of
that truth which enlightens all men," nor the requirement of charity,
which urges Christians "to treat with love, prudence and patience those
who are in error or ignorance with regard to the faith."
2105 The duty of offering God genuine worship concerns man both
individually and socially. This is "the traditional Catholic teaching on
the moral duty of individuals and societies toward the true religion and the
one Church of Christ." By constantly evangelizing men, the Church
works toward enabling them "to infuse the Christian spirit into the mentality
and mores, laws and structures of the communities in which [they] live." The
social duty of Christians is to respect and awaken in each man the love of the
true and the good. It requires them to make known the worship of the one true
religion which subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church. Christians
are called to be the light of the world. Thus, the Church shows forth the
kingship of Christ over all creation and in particular over human societies.
2106 "Nobody may be forced to act against his convictions,
nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience in
religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others,
within due limits." This right is based on the very nature of the
human person, whose dignity enables him freely to assent to the divine truth
which transcends the temporal order. For this reason it "continues to
exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth
and adhering to it."
2107 "If because of the circumstances of a particular
people special civil recognition is given to one religious community in the
constitutional organization of a state, the right of all citizens and religious
communities to religious freedom must be recognized and respected as
well."
2108 The right to religious liberty is neither a moral license
to adhere to error, nor a supposed right to error, but rather a natural
right of the human person to civil liberty, i.e., immunity, within just limits,
from external constraint in religious matters by political authorities. This
natural right ought to be acknowledged in the juridical order of society in
such a way that it constitutes a civil right.
2109 The right to religious liberty can of itself be neither
unlimited nor limited only by a "public order" conceived in a
positivist or naturalist manner. The "due limits" which are
inherent in it must be determined for each social situation by political
prudence, according to the requirements of the common good, and ratified by the
civil authority in accordance with "legal principles which are in
conformity with the objective moral order."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in the Religious and Consecrated Life.
·
Jesse Tree ornament: Jesus is King of the
Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter
·
Litany of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Humbug Day-watch Scrooge
·
Festivus
·
Rosary
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